Monday, July 31, 2006

Bryce Playing on Phone

this is an audio post - click to play

Rapper Bry

Bryce has been RAPPING Twinkle Twinkle Little Star all day today. Now, we don't listen to rap so I am not sure where he got this from but I have been laughing my bootie off ALL day listening to him do this!

When I Grow Up....

Isaac and Bryce have been doing the "When I grow up, I want to be..." game a lot lately. It is pretty funny to listen to their ideas!

Isaac wants to be a doctor. This is funny because I have said before that he would either grow up to be a doctor or never see one again as much as he has seen them the last couple of years. He always tells me that he will drive me to the doctor (to HIS office) and he will NEVER give me shots! I laugh because his doctor NEVER gives him shots (just tells the nurse to do it!!).

Bryce keeps telling me that he wants to be a monster, fire truck driver and train conductor. I told him he has already mastered the monster part, and getting close to the fire truck driver!! He likes to add new things everyday, but never forgets the old ones. Pretty much he wants to drive ALL BIG trucks (but only when he is not driving the fire truck he said). He will be a busy guy and always on the go (like he is now!!).

Isaac's Doctors Appointment

Isaac went to the ENT specialist today. While we were in the waiting room the boys started playing with a little girl that was also waiting. It was hilarious watching especially Bryce and this little girl.

Isaac has to have surgery again - next week. They are taking the tube out because if he is off drops for more than a few days the granulation starts attaching to the tube again. When the nurse called and told me his appointment information, I asked if they could put tubes back - in both ears.

He has had ear infections since the one tube came out and had them with tubes in. Paul and I don't want them in 6 months to decide that he needs them again, and make him go through all of this again. He has had too many surgeries for a four year old - no matter how minor they were! The nurse is going to talk to the dr about it tomorrow (he was gone for the day) and ask what he thinks about doing this.

I Am So Sad!!

Yesterday at church I drew a smiley face on Caleb's hand. Under it I wrote I love you. He looked at it and then covered it. After a few minutes he looked down and had moved his arm so the message was showing. He quickly covered it back up and looked around. I erased the I love you part and he quit covering it up. He did not mind the smiley face. My baby is too embarrased be me to hear I love you. What a sad day in my life!

Sunday, July 30, 2006

MEAN PARENTS!!

I made this really good dinner (if I do say so myself) tonight. These boys may not agree. I made a one skillet recipe that is bacon, chicken, bell pepper, tomato and green beans (all fresh veggies) cooked with italian dressing. The boys kept coming in while I was cooking and complaining about the veggies. When we sat down to eat, Isaac asked if he could play in the sprinklers after dinner and the other two joined in wanting too.

We, of course, decided to use this to our advantage! We told them that if they eat all their dinner - including the veggies, they could go outside AND have dessert. If they don't eat all their food (meaning they manage to eat all of the chicken and bacon and none of the veggies) they have to go to bed.

Isaac took the best approach by eating all of the vegetables first (which he decided he liked). Caleb ate everything he liked and left the one bell pepper slice he had for last - which was the only veggie he did not want. They both ate everything on their plate though.

For anyone who regularly reads this blog - you know how Bryce is when it cones to eating vegetables! It started out not very good. He was trying to eat it, but did his normal gagging and holding the food in his mouth instead of chewing and swallowing. I kept reminding him of what he wanted and would get if he ate it all. I finally got the idea to get the camera and try to get some video of him trying to eat veggies. As soon as I got the camera on him he was able to eat without gagging!! I will try to get some of the video up tomorrow.

They all ate everything and are outside playing in the sprinkler with Daddy. We are taking him to the airport at 4:30 in the morning so he can go to New York for the week.

Saturday, July 29, 2006

Ouray CO/Bear Creek Trail










Sneak "Peak"

Here is a "peak" as to what is to come later today (hopefully)!




I know this looks to perfect to be an actual photograph that an amateur photographer would take, but it was taken by Paul (with many other gorgeous photos).

I will try and get some of the 500+ pictures Paul and Bill (one of the guys that went) took while on their backpacking trip to Bear Creek Trail. This is one of my favorites!

Balls, Hair and Inexperience

It is just after 8 am and the boys have already given me blogging material so I thought I should post it before I forget.

This morning I had given the boys breakfast (Captain Crunch cereal). This conversation took place between Isaac and Bryce.
"Look at my balls"
"I have more."
"Mine are bigger."
"Look at mine."

FYI: they were talking about their cereal - everything is a competition ALREADY!

Caleb: "Daddy what is that black stuff on your belly button?" (Hair)

Isaac came and asked me to button his shorts. He keeps wearing these shorts that are getting kind of snug. Everytime I tried to button them, they would pop open. Isaac looks at me and says "Mama, you are not very good at this, just not very good!"

BUTTON YOUR OWN SHORTS!!!

Thursday, July 27, 2006

Tadpole Update

Well, we lost one tadpole (if I have not already told ya'll that). We still have the other one and this is becoming a very long process. I don't know what I was expecting, but it seems like we should have a frog now!!! I guess we have not had him very long, but it seems like it has been forever!!

The smaller, shy one is the one that died. The bigger one is still growing, but I keep telling Caleb he may not last to become a frog either!

While we were gone this weekend, Caleb watched Animal Planet all weekend. If we were at the house, he was glued to the tv. When we got home he immediately turned on the tv and started going through the channels. I asked him what he was doing and he said he was looking for channel 25. I told him we did not have cable and he said "okay, I will go watch it in the bedroom!"

Boy was he disappointed to learn we did not have cable there either!! Now, I don't know about getting cable at all. At least he is not glued to cartoon network or worse!

More Friends

Well, Robby has multiplied. Apparantly all of the little - invisible - kids like to hang out at our house. Bryce now plays with Kiki, Nemo and Robby. I can only assume where Nemo came from - even though we have not watched that movie in forever! No idea where Kiki came from though. He has lots of conversations with them and he now walks around with both hands in a fist (holding their hands!!)

Coctapus

Paul has a plecastomous in his fish tank. Caleb always calls him a catfish and we correct him and tell him what it is called. This morning he came running in saying the coctamus had four eyes. I corrected him (while trying not to laugh at his pronunciation) and he retried and said clostamus. On the third try he pronounced it correctly.

Doggie Hooker

The last several mornings when I have taken Caleb to BGC, there has been this cute little red pomeranian dog that is always sitting on the corner. When I am taking Caleb, the dog is wandering around, but when I am heading back home, the dog is sitting at the same corner. This morning when I was coming back through, the Pom was sitting as the corner and I noticed another dog running up to it, like they do this everyday.

Doggie rendevous?

OKAY!! OKAY!!

I have been getting complaints because I have not posted since Saturday, so I am back. See, I got addicted to this puzzle called Sudoku (play here - http://http://www.websudoku.com/ ) So any free time I have had, I have spent doing these puzzles.

Also, we went to Hot Springs Village this weekend with Chrisanna and her two kids, Jordan and Annalise. Her parents have a house there so we went and enjoyed it for the weekend. It was so nice. We went late Friday night. We have not had much rain lately and it decided to pour Friday night on the way. I don't really care for driving in the rain, and I don't really care for driving in the dark. Put the two together and made for a not fun drive there.

Saturday morning we got up and went to the "beach." It was beautiful outside, cool from the rain the night before, still cloudy - PERFECT! We sprayed everyone down with sunscreen and tried to control 5 kids in the water by ourselves. Unfortunately, because the weather was SO great, we did not think to reapply sunscreen to the kids. It was cloudy and cool - who thinks of reapplying sunscreen. Isaac's face got a little pink and Bryce got burned pretty good!

Caleb has been swimming every week with the BGC. The first time he went he told us that he taught himself to swim. I was a little doubtful because we have been trying to teach him to do this for 5 years now. He would not relax enough for Paul or I either one to teach him anything. He DID teach himself though (or someone there was able to teach him). He and Jordan were like fish out in the water. They kept asking to go to the deep part (we would only let them if one of us were out there). Caleb can only swim under water right now though. He does not believe us that it is the same above water, but he will figure it out on his own in time. I have a sneaking suspiscion that Caleb is going to do a lot of learning that way. He already thinks he knows everything and will argue with everything you say - especially if you try to correct him!

Isaac was not to sure of the water. He stayed right at the shore line and played. We finally convinced him that he could walk out some and it was not deep. Finally he came out and played in the water with us, but was still a little uncomfortable.

Bryce and Annalise - wow, what do I say about those two? They kept us busy and neither of them has ANY fear! They would look at us while they walked out daring the bottom of the lake. If they were in their floats they would kick their feet until they were out where it was deep (with the older two). Of course they always went the opposite direction so if one was out in the deep with the big kids, the other one was trying to watch the two littles. After a while neither one of them wanted their arm floats on or the floaties. There were a couple of times where I just let them see how far they could go before they went under. I was, of course, standing right in front of them to pull them out. I was hoping that if they went out and under, they would listen when I told them not to walk out.

Later Saturday we went and got a paddle boat. We paddled around (Chrisanna and I took turns paddling the older three) and wore ourselves out (but not the kids - not what you should do with 5 kids!!).

All and all we had a great time, great weather and the kids were overall well behaved. A nice mini-vacation! Blogger won't load photos right now so I will add photos later!

Saturday, July 22, 2006

Private Schools

Chrisanna and I were talking about private schools. Caleb heard and asked what a private school was, "is that a school where you learn about your privates?" he asked.

Friday, July 21, 2006

SORRY

I know I have not been around in a while, things have been insane lately! We have been to the dr 3 times in 4 days (once for the boys check-ups and twice for sick kids).

Sunday morning Caleb woke up at about 3:30 am complaining that his head hurt. I gave him some tylenol and he went back to bed. He was not running a fever or anything, so I was not too concerned. All day Sunday when his tylenol wore off he complained about his head hurting. At about 10pm I went to tuck Caleb in before I went to bed. He felt REALLY hot so I took his temperature. It was 104.7! I made him drink lots of ice water and gave him some tylenol.

Monday morning he was still complaining about his head and now throat, and was still running a pretty good fever. I called the dr and took him in. He had strep! The dr did not even have to do a strep test that is how bad it was! He was put on meds and stayed home until Wednesday. He was fine all day Tuesday so I let him go to BGC Wednesday, which proved to be a mistake! I picked him up and he was crying about his head and throat hurting again. I checked his temp and it was up again. So he had to stay home yesterday. He went to BGC again today, hopefully he won't get a problem again!

Tuesday I had to take Bryce in. He had started coughing so bad that he was not sleeping. We really have to watch this with him because of his asthma. He gets bronchitis very easy. I had called hoping to just get some coughing meds. They wanted us to come in because when he was there last week he was wheezing so bad. Dr said his chest sounded great! The cough was because of the sinus infection he has. They changed his antibiotics and put him on a cough medicine with codeine.

Isaac's ear started bleeding again. I called his ENT specialist and they put him on a new ear drop. He goes in on the 31st to see if his two ear infections had cleared up, so the dr was trying to save me from having to come in an extra time. His ear does good when we are putting drops in, but after a few days of no drops, it starts bleeding again.

On top of this, we have been running around trying to get Paul ready for his trip. I took him to the airport at 5 this morning and he is in Colorado to go backpacking. I will post his pictures when he gets back. There are four guys going and they are like a little kid who is on their way to Disney World. They are SOOOO excited.

So, you can see things have been crazy. Between the three kids we have 8 different medicines to give out. I had to put a chart on the refrigerator to keep up with who got what, when and how much. It has gotten kind of confusing! I feel like I have been living between the drs office and the pharmacy. Luckily we just got a Walgreens with a drive-thru so I don't have to get all the kids out and mess with Walmart!

Monday, July 17, 2006

Fun

http://www.thisdayinmusic.com/member/birthdayno1.php
This is a pretty cool site - you put in your birthday and it tells you the #1 song the day you were born.

Paul: (I asked him what he thought it was and he said "Born To Be Wild" hahahahaha)
Knock On Wood - Amii Stewart
Meaghan: Love You Inside Out - The Bee Gees
Caleb: One Week - The Barenaked Ladies
Isaac: U Got It Bad - Usher
Bryce: 21 Questions - 50 Cent

Paul's Life Song (#1 on his 18th birthday) - Can't Nobody Hold Me Down - Puff Daddy featuring Mase
Meaghan's Life Song: I'll Be Missing You - Puff Daddy and Faith Evans

Sunday, July 16, 2006

"FAST SHOES"

While we were out running around today we found some good shoes on clearance. Since school starts in about a month, we thought we should go ahead and grab them. We try to have two pairs of tennis shoes for each one of the boys. One for school and play and one for when we go out. What I normally do is the pair they had as nice shoes before, we make into school shoes and we buy new nice ones (they are boys and can't keep shoes clean for long - even if they aren't playing outside in them).

Isaac cracks me up because I will be showing him a bunch of different nice shoes and he always wants Buzz Lightyear or Spiderman (usually that light up). Paul showed him some, what he called "old school" shoes. Isaac loved them so much that he would not take them off. He wore them home and opted to stay inside instead of playing outside so that he did not have to take them off. Ever since we got them go, he has been running everywhere. When I tell him to walk he says (while still running) "I can't I have my fast shoes on!"

Watch out world - Isaac has his fast shoes on and he is ready to go!

Becoming a Man

Caleb learned how to pump gas today. I know it sounds like it is something really easy, but it is not when you are 7. I gave him the card to swipe and Paul went and stood over him and told him everything to do. He did have to have some assistance, but did it! My little boy is growing up too fast (all of them!)

BEWARE OF THE MOCKINGBIRDS!

Bryce has a tendency to NOT have to use the bathroom until we pull away from all bathrooms. Even if we ask before we leave wherever we are, he always says no, and as soon as you pull away - he has to go. Today we did not even get out of the parking lot and he needed to go. Since I did not know if this place had a bathroom, I told Paul to pull into an empty lot and I would get Bryce out. Paul parks next to the curb (there are a couple of trees at it). I get out on my side and Bryce climbs through and pottys. I went around the drivers side to put him back in his carseat and I saw a reflection of something in the window and heard something behind me. I went to turn around and A MOCKINGBIRD ATTACKED ME!

I am talking pecked at me and when I went to get away and go to the other side of the truck - he followed me attacking! I can only assume there was a nest in the trees and we were to close, but I DON'T LIKE MOCKINGBIRDS ANYMORE!

I am just glad it got me and not Bryce!! His bare bottom was out for the taking!! :)

Father's Day!

We were running around this morning and were in the car. Bryce said it was Fathers Day. I asked him what he was going to do for Daddy for Fathers Day and he said "put up a Christmas Tree!"

Friday, July 14, 2006

A Nice Compliment

One of our errands today was getting dogfood at Petsmart. We walked in and I did not get a buggy because I could not put the boys and the dogfood in it so it would be one more thing to control! We went straight to the dogfood and turned to go back to the counter. People kept smiling at us when they walked by us, and I, of course, thought they were smiling at my adorable children. Until I got to the checkout. The cashier looked at me and just said "WOW!" I, confused by the welcome, asked what was "WOW"

"You are definently a mother!" she said with big eyes.

For a second I was not sure if I should take that as a compliment or an insult, then I realized what all the looks were for and what she was commenting on. I had 40 pounds of dogfood on my shoulder (did not want to unbalance the load by putting the dogfood down - just to pick it right back up), keys (with my Petsmart card) for her to scan, swiping my credit card (and signing) all while holding the hands of two VERY active little boys.

"Yes, I am." I said with a proud smile.

"That gives a whole new meaning to multi-tasking. I don't think I have ever seen anyone do so many things at one time! And you act like it is normal!"

"It is!" I said almost laughing.

That was a nice compliment! I must admit that I am not always so calm, but hey...

More Adventures With Robby

We went and ran some errands today and of course, Robby went too. Except now - Isaac has decided that since he can't play with Robby, he will make up his own, Robin (who was his physical therapist up until a few months ago). Isaac only plays with Robin when Robby is brought up though. He is not quite on Bryce's level of seriousness yet.

So when we were leaving Daddy's office after lunch, Bryce wanted a hug and kiss from Daddy. As soon as Daddy walked off, Bryce started screaming that Robby needed a hug and kiss too. Daddy owes him one when he gets home!!

Now when we are going places - Robby has to be buckled in a seat belt. The whole way to Daddy's office Isaac would say that Robby was out of his seat belt and Bryce would get on to Robby. A couple of times he actually asked me to pull over and take care of Robby so he would stay in the belt.

It is like having another child with me!!!

Caleb

I dropped Caleb off this morning at about 8:15 or so. He opened the door to get out and start hearing girls calling him. He looks at me with this grin that says he is embaressed - even though I know he loves it!

He is not fooling anyone!

Poor Daddy

Boy was Daddy confused when Bryce kept talking about Robby this morning. I guess I never mentioned it the few times we talked while he was out of town, and OBVIOUSLY he did not read the blog while he was gone!

Bryce told me this morning that Robby needed to have lunch with Daddy. We are going to meet him because I assume Robby is going to need a ride!!

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Robby's Picture & Theory


I took this picture at Bryce's request earlier, but could not post it because of Blogger problems. I know - looks like a chair! I asked Bryce to point it out on the picture and he showed me where he was sitting and where is hands were!














Someone asked me today where Bryce got the name Robby. I told them that we do not know a Robby so I guess he heard it on the tv. It is close to the name of one of his favorite firemen though (Ronnie)...coincidence?

I also think maybe he is protective over Robby because "he" is the only thing Bryce does not really have to share. How do I tell him he has to share something that noone else can see?

I also think I am overanalyzing a three year olds imaginary friend!!!

SLEEP...FINALLY

I had a hard time getting Bryce to sleep tonight. I spent about an hour patting his back and he never even began to settle down and be still. I finally gave up and left. Shortly later, I hear Bryce in the room playing and talking. I walk in to get on to him and tuck him in YET AGAIN!

I walk in and he of course blames Robby for the abundance of playing and lack of sleep.

"Well, obviously you and Robby can't sleep together. He will have to come with me!" I told him, grabbing at the air.

Bryce starts screaming "I want ROBBY!"

After about 10 minutes of him screaming, I told him that if he would get in bed and go to sleep - Robby could come back.

I NEVER HEARD HIM AGAIN!

One day he will learn that since no one else can see Robby, he could just say that I did not get Robby. But, until that day - yes I will milk this for all it is worth!!!

I Think I Might Like This Robby Thing...

I forgot to put in Bryce's dr report that the dr asked if he liked imaginary play.
"As a matter of fact - he got an imaginary friend this week."

"Really, Bryce what is your friends name?"

"Robby!"

Dr. Stanford looking next to Bryce "Well, hello Robby it is nice to meet you!"

"NO! NO! NO! ROBBY IS MY FRIEND - NOT YOURS!" Bryce shouts at the dr.

"Well, I am very sorry!" Dr said somewhat amused, somewhat shocked!

Lesson here - don't mess with Robby, Bryce is his bodyguard (I guess)!

DR, Again?

Do you ever feel like you live at the drs office? I don't know if you read the past post about running into the pediatrician at the post office and him talking to me about the kids (and used all of our names from memory). Well that was bad!!

Today, leaving the drs office, I had to stop at the desk to get Isaac's shot record. The women saw us walking up and grabbed the records and asked for my signature. I DID NOT TELL HER OUR NAME!! I said "It is a bad sign when you know who we are!"

"Yeah - you have been here a time or two!"

This is not even a receptionist that is normally at the front when we check in. She is the one that scheduled Isaac's test, but we mostly talked over the phone!!

I know that every time we go to the dr - there IS something wrong with the kids and it usually ends up with medication. Today we did not go because anyonet was sick - just a well child visit that turned out having a sick kid and medication! It is just that I don't want someone to think I am one of those paranoid moms or moms that say their kid is sick, even when they aren't!

I think our pediatrician should just hire me and give me a discount. I am sure I alone have already paid him enough for a very comfortable and luxurious retirement! ENJOY DOC!!!

Bryce's 3 Year Check-up

Bryce is TINY!!! He was 35 3/4" long (25 percent) and a whopping 26 pounds (also 25 percent). I asked the dr to see how long he has been at that weight. He looked back in his chart and said a year ago, at his 2 year checkup he was 26 pounds, but the last two times he had gone in this year, he was at 29 pounds. The last time was last month, so in a month he has LOST 3 pounds! So, Dr put him back on whole milk!!

I also said that we were still having a lot of allergy problems and that he has also had some drainage from his eyes (that seemed allergy related). He said it sounded like he had a sinus infection. He listened to his chest - and Bryce actually went through a coughing spell while we were there. Have you noticed that when you take a child to the dr, for a cough or high fever or whatever, they are always fine at the drs office? Anyway, he listened to his chest and said his chest sounded as bad as his cough - really raspy sounding.

He was taken off the DAllergy that he has been taking (apparantly not working well for him, but works for the other kids) and was put on Zyrtec for the allergies. He was given Flovent inhaler for his asthma. This is a STEROID!! We are supposed to use it twice daily for a month and see how it works. If it does good he will take it a minimum of 4 months. He will still be using his Albuterol inhaler as needed. He is on Amoxicillin for his sinus infection and Orapred for the cough/allergies. This is also a STEROID!!

I don't know if you have ever had a kid on steroids (except for you Heather!), but Bryce recently got a hold of his brothers Orapred (my fault - I admit it!) and drank some. We were up until after midnight because he was so hyped up! Now I am expected to give him a steroid inhaler twice a day and a oral steroid once a day. Dr. felt kinda bad because Bryce was kinda hyped up while we were there, so he got a taste of Bryce WITHOUT steroids!

So diagnosis (let me remind you this was a WELL CHILD CHECKUP!! He has a sinus infection and asthma etc. and working on bronchitis.

When he was asking the questions in Bryce's chart he says "Does Bryce talk? Uh, well I can definently say yes to that. I think the better question is does he ever stop?" Other than all of the above problems he looked great. Dr was impressed with how well he talked - which he has commented on before!

What happened to the WELL part of this checkup???

Caleb's 7 Year Old Check-up

Caleb had his annual check up today and the dr said he looked great. He is average on height (48 1/2 inches) and a little under average for weight (48 pounds). Not a whole lot to say about his visit - everything looked good.

FYI

Anonymous said...
What if Robby isn't actually an imaginary friend but a ghost that is in the house?
12:35 PM

He would have to be a ghost in the bus (AKA Suburban) because he originated in the bus and usually stays there. This is the first time he has been in the house (and I think Bryce said he went back out there). Who knows though - no one ever said there could not be a ghost in a car! I will be spooked every time I drive at night now! :)

So Grown Up

I went yesterday and put school supplies on layaway. Not that it cost that much - but I don't want to be in the back-to-school frenzy and I don't want to try and store it and keep kids out of it for a month!!

So this morning Isaac was telling Caleb that we got school supplies and what he got. Caleb says, "Did you get me a backpack?"

"Yes"

"What does it look like?" he asked disgustingly.

"It is like the daypack you use when we go hiking."

"what color is it?"

"Black and gray."

"oh good, there are no pictures on it!"

"There were not pictures on it last year."

"Yeah, but it was colored camoflauge."

"That is not a picture."

"Well, I want a backpack like the high school kids carry! Picture backpacks are for babies!"

Well, EXCUSE ME! Nothing like your second grader wanting to act like a high schooler. And how does he know what high schoolers use? He is not around them!

Robby Strikes Again!

I went to put Bryce in time out for beating up Isaac. After the normal fight, I finally got him there. After less than a minute he was up. I told him to get back in time out.

"I can't sit Mommy." he said - crying

"Why?" thinking since there are tears he must have hurt his bottom or something.

"I just can't." he repeated. "Robby won't let me!"

I think Robby is fixing to have to "runaway." Can you "accidently" leave an imaginary friend somewhere.

WHY?

Why do people let their 7, 5, and 2 year old run around from 8 am to 10 pm or later in a street - a street that is pretty busy - with absolutely NO supervision?

Why do the police do nothing about it when they are called because a 2 year old is found a block away getting on a very busy street with a really bad curve that people take too fast? They instead say that because someone went door to door until the parents were found, that they are not needed?

Why does CPS here think that a ten year old is capable of babysitting, and will charge them with neglect if someone files a claim and they find it to be true? Is ten years old really a good age to start leaving a child home alone and responsible for other children? My kids will be lucky if they get to stay home alone at 10 much less be babysitting!!!

There are so many things about this world today that just makes no since to me!!!

Devising Moral Destruction

Another good article I received by email.

Devising moral destruction

Posted: July 8, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern


By Tom Flannery
© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com


How would you destroy the moral fiber of a nation grounded in moral truth? A nation whose founding document says is predicated on the self-evident truths that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with unalienable rights?

First of all, you would work vigorously to remove any vestige of religious expression from its government schools (let's call them the "public schools" to make them more acceptable to parents and children alike). No official prayers or Bible reading, no mention of God in school ceremonies and no copies of the 10 Commandments posted anywhere in these buildings. After all, if kids see them they might read them, and if they read them they might be tempted to practice them. Can't have that.

You would teach children in these schools that they are nothing more than randomly gathered protoplasm, that they evolved from the slime of some prebiotic soup billions of years ago and that their ancestors are apes. The best way to get them to act like animals is to teach them that they are animals.

You would also teach them that this universe arrived on the scene purely by accident and there is no purpose to life, no grand design, certainly no need for them to concern themselves with the eternal consequences of their actions or any such silliness. Then they wouldn't behave like animals! Can't have that, either.

You would devalue human life by legalizing the mass murder of unborn children, embracing euthanasia and assisted suicide as well as fetal tissue and embryonic stem-cell research, leading eventually to human cloning, while at the same time designing laws to protect murderers so that only a tiny percentage of them would ever be executed for their crimes. That will send the right message to the brave new world you're trying to create.

You would make condoms available to children at an early age through the government schools and teach them explicit sex instruction without making any moral distinctions whatsoever about sexual activity. "Hey, boys and girls, if it feels good do it! Chastity is for losers!" And you'd make sure that all the young girls have access to abortion without their parents' knowledge or consent, since this comprehensive sex education program would be sure to dramatically increase sexual activity among teens.

You would eliminate any trace of the nation's rich religious heritage from the history books used in its schools, eliminate any kind of criticism of the unscientific theory of evolution from the science books, eliminate anything that promotes the supremacy of traditional family values from the health books, and so on.

You would bombard the television airwaves, movie screens and music stores with "entertainment fare" filled with gruesome violence, gratuitous sex and prolific profanity and blasphemy to desensitize the population to hedonism.

You would also mass-produce quick-kill video games that instruct children in the art of killing without conscience.

You would use these and other art forms to portray religious people (particularly Christians) as dangerous, traditional families as demented, and secular humanism as the ideal governing philosophy. Most of the crimes in the movies and TV shows would be committed by businessmen – or by "right-wing fundamentalists" (a term you'll use interchangeably for Bible-believing Christians who love even their enemies and Islamo-fascists who blow up innocent men, women and children in the name of religion).

Meanwhile, most of the good being done in these same movies and TV shows would be at the hands of socialists. Let's call them "liberals" or "progressives" to avoid any unpleasantries.

You would compel working people to fork over a sizable portion of their income to support a bloated government bureaucracy filled with waste, fraud and abuse at every level. This will not only make people slaves to this same government system, but force most women (many of whom would otherwise stay home to raise their children) out into the workplace, creating millions of latchkey kids.

You would promote a new kind of tolerance and demand that everyone adhere to it – or else! Under the old definition of tolerance, people respected the rights of others to believe whatever they wanted and live however they pleased, as long as it was lawful, even when they disagreed with those beliefs or lifestyles. Under the new definition, people would be expected to affirm the beliefs and lifestyles they disagreed with, as well as those which they felt were destructive to the practitioners and to society itself. Not only that, but people would be expected to support financially these offensive beliefs and lifestyles through their tax dollars. Anyone who refused to be tolerant would be branded a hate-monger or worse.

You would confiscate all guns from the civilian population to remove any possibility that they will ever be able to defend themselves when the police state you're planning is finally put into full effect. In a nation whose Founding Fathers won their freedom through revolution, you can't take the chance of history repeating itself. Of course, they're not going to willingly surrender their firearms, so you start by banning the "dangerous ones" and then, as they get used to it and start acquiescing, you move on to the hunting rifles and handguns. By that time, after being conditioned so long to surrender, they'll hardly mutter a peep in protest.

You would make it possible for the country to be illegally invaded by millions of uneducated, low-skill workers from another country who don't speak the language and have no intention of assimilating or ever becoming part of a "melting pot." Their loyalty would be to their country of origin, and their leaders would even talk openly about reclaiming part of this new land for their country of origin. Let's call it "Reconquista."

You would raise up civil-liberties groups that would wage war on organizations like the Boy Scouts of America but go to court pro bono to defend the rights of a group like NAMBLA, the North American Man-Boy Love Association, which wants to make it legal for grown men to have sex with underage boys.

You would celebrate pornographers as free-thinking defenders of liberty and denounce peaceful pro-life activists as terrorists or Nazis. You would popularize the occult through astrology, horoscopes, tarot cards, séances, "games" like Ouija boards and Dungeons and Dragons, TV shows where people "communicate with the dead," and a series of books and movies about a boy wizard called Harry Potter. You would overrun the nation's university campuses with political correctness, particularly through enforcing speech codes to ensure everyone thinks, acts and speaks "the right way" or faces censure, even expulsion, if they refuse to conform.

Most importantly of all, you would put corrupt politicians into office, including a president who would lie under oath, commit perjury, obstruct justice, sell nuclear secrets to foreign enemies, pardon fugitives and had a long history of sexually harassing, groping or otherwise assaulting any number of women. Then you would actually find people to defend him even after the truth was known and lash out against anyone who dared question his criminal and immoral behavior while in our nation's highest office. These people would also work feverishly, and successfully, to get his equally corrupt wife elected to high office and groom her for a future run for the presidency herself.

Destroying the moral fiber of a nation grounded in moral truth is not impossible by any means. It would take decades to accomplish, but if enough people in places of power are willing to invest the time, energy and devotion, and enough others are willing to either cooperate or sit idly by and let it happen, then it can be done. As the sage once said, all it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing.

History has shown us that, and experience is showing us once again.

On-Air Prayer by Paul Harvey

Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program, "TheRest of the Story," and received a larger response to this program thanany other he has ever aired.

"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgivenessand to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woeto those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done.We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We haveexploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded lazinessand called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice.We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglectedto discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We haveabused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor'spossessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air withprofanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We haveridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called itenlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse usfrom every sin and set us free. Amen!"

With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called "one nation under God." If possible, please pass this prayer on to your friends. "If you don't stand for something, you will fall for everything." Think about this: If you forward this prayer to everyone on your e-mail list, in less than 30 days it would be heard by the world.

OH NOOOOOO!

I picked Caleb up yesterday from BGC. I could not find him at first, even though when we pulled up Isaac said he was on the sidewalk. I looked around and saw a couple of kids playing here and there, and a big crowd of kids (about 8-10) in a group sitting on the sidewalk. I looked and saw it was all girls, but something made me take a second look. There, in the middle of this circle of girls, was my son. As for the circle of girls...they were all giggling at Caleb!! When he got up to leave I hear all of them yelling "bye Caleb!"

What am I going to do with these girl-crazy boys of mine!!??

"Not Me" Has a Name

Well, Robby was back with us in the car this morning and boy - that Robby talks way too much!!! I asked Bryce if Robby was a boy or girl and he said boy. I asked what Robby was and Bryce said a person and he was green. Then Robby talked way too much, which made Bryce talk way too much.

So when we got home, Bryce informed me that Robby wanted to go see our house. He came in with Bryce and continued to talk too much. I was in my bedroom and heard the refrigerator and pantry door open. I called Bryce and he came running in, "What."

"stay out of the pantry and refrigerator."

"It is Robby - he said he was hungry."

Now every time I get on to Bryce for something he says it is Robby! So, "Not Me" is now known as "Robby."

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Tonights Bedtime Schedule

I was letting the boys stay up late, but unfortunately they have not behaved today - and I needed a break - so they went to bed early. Well, I was just pulling my dinner (pizza) out of the oven. I got it out and went to get the boys to sleep. After about 10 minutes, I figured it was going to take a while to get him to sleep, so I went and fixed my plate. I took it in his room with me so I could eat while I was patting his back. This is how the conversation went.

Bryce: Can you quit patting my butt? (so I started patting his back)
Can you get that food out of my room?

Me: No I am eating dinner.

Bryce: Well, I don't want it in here.

Me: Neither do I!

Bryce: Well Daddy says I can't have food in here! (never mind I tell him that about 100 times a day - but since Daddy said it once...)

Me: YOU can't have food in here - I am not you though! (I know I am supposed to set an example!!)

Bryce: (a few minutes later) Are you still eating?

Me: Yes

Bryce: You have to give me some!

Me: No I don't!

Bryce: Can I have your dessert? (I did not have any!!)
(I pick up my drink) I need a drink!

Me: No it is bed time!

Bryce: I am hot!

Me: I am sorry.

Bryce: I need my big blanket! (why do you need a big blanket if you are hot under a little blanket?)
My arm hurts. (pointing to nothing on his arm)

Me: I am sorry - but there is nothing there. Go to sleep and it will feel better.

Bryce: Well, I can't. Bear Bear needs his fire suit on to go to sleep.

Me: His suit is in the washer.

Bryce: Well it is clean then, put it on him.

Me: It is wet.

Bryce: no it not!

When I finally got him to quit talking - he fell right to sleep!

Sleeping Dilemma

So, lately sleep time has been not-so-good around here. I expected it with Isaac home all day, but this really started way before then. Here is the dilemma. If I put Isaac and Bryce to bed at the same time they play. I tried leaving the door open - they get up and close it.

I tried putting Bryce to bed first. He plays, when he finally goes to sleep and I put Isaac to bed, Isaac wakes him up and they play. If I put Isaac to bed first, after he plays, he goes to sleep. When I take Bryce to bed, Bryce screams and wakes up Isaac.

So this is what I have been doing - which I really DON'T want to start! The last several days I have gone in a patted Bryce's back until he falls asleep. It usually takes about 15 minutes. Then I pat Isaac's back until he falls asleep, which usually takes 30+ minutes.

It is not that I don't want to have the time with them, I don't want them to get dependant on me patting their back everytime they are suppose to go to sleep. I have worked very hard since each one was born to make sure they learn to put themselves to sleep, but I don't know what else to do. I have thought about having them go back to all of them sleeping in one room and having the other room as a playroom. That would not help with the problem of them waking each other up when put to bed, but it would end them getting up to play all the time! On the other hand, they are all getting to the age (especially Caleb) where they want privacy and they want to play with their own toys on their own! Caleb has really loved having his own room!

If you ask the kids what to do they say that we should let them stay up until they pass out because they were so tired. I would not mind doing that SOMETIMES, and we have done it with Caleb before, but he was not allowed to come out and he had to be quiet! He did put himself to bed and we do that now when he does not have school. He stays up and reads, and when he gets tired or finishes the book, he turns the light off and goes to bed. I think if I let them all do that though, we would have WWIII. I would not get my much needed somewhat quiet time in the evenings and I would probably go insane!

So to sum it up - there is really no solution that I have found (and can do at the moment) to take care of this!!

WHY?

We were in the car the other day and I don't know how it came up, but Caleb asked "Why do girls have to have their bellies cut open to have a baby?"

Not thinking I said "I did not have my belly cut open when I had any of you."

"Then how do you have babies?"

Wow did I open a can of worms!!! Paul and I just glanced at each other and changed the subject. We figured if he was really interested and wanted an answer to bad, he would not let us change the subject! He didn't so we left it alone!!!

We will have to have that talk soon enough!

"Robby"

Robby likes to go for rides in our car. I don't know who Robby is, but lately Robby goes with us everywhere we go. Am I a bad mother for letting Robby go everywhere with us when I don't know who Robby is?

Robby is Bryce's new friend. But he only visits when we are in the car and out in public. The other two did not have an imaginary friend that I remember. This actually just started yesterday, and it is every time we go somewhere. I did not say much yesterday about it, but this morning when he was telling me that Robby said we were supposed to go to McDonald's, I started asking who Robby was.

"Who is Robby?"

"Robby!"

"I know, but where did you meet Robby?"

"McDonalds."

"So is Robby at McDonalds?"

"No Robby with me."

I guess we will just play along and see where this goes!!!

Monday, July 10, 2006

Poor Isaac

Isaac went back to the ENT dr this morning to recheck that tube that has been giving him problems. The tissue around the ear is still inflammed, but all of the gunk that was blocking it is gone. Now he has two ear infections instead! The tube is actually still in place, so that ear is draining the way it should! My poor Isaac!! It is just one thing after another!!!

Sunday, July 09, 2006

Evolution of Dance

Found this on YouTube and thought it was hilarious - it is long, but good!
Stunt Driving

This was not at all planned, Paul just happened to be at the right place at the right time with his phone. I know the video is not great, but hey it is a phone!

It is like watching the Three Stooges try to do their own stunts. Daddy was proud, his sons are already trying rock crawling with their Jeep. I am just hoping it is not a sign of things to come (I know - it will get worse before it gets better!)

Memphis Zoo Polar Bears

The visit to the polar bears was so hilarious I have to give it its own post. I am so mad that I did not have the camera (with video) with me when this was happening!

When we got to their exhibit, there were not any other people watching them. So, the boys and I went and sat at one of the windows and watched the polar bears. There was one that kept walking from the window we were at to the window next to us. He was pacing, but under water I guess. He came over and stopped and looked at the boys and then went to the other window, then repeat the same again. Well the third time or so that he came over, he stood up on his hind legs a little. Then he RAMMED his head on the glass - right in Caleb's face. Caleb jumped and the other two and I were laughing!

Then the polar bear just turned and went to the other window. We kept sitting there to see if he would come back. Imagine our surprise when he came back, looked at the boys and rammed the glass in the boys face again. He did this 4 or 5 times and then a crowd of people noticed and came over to see. He continued to do this several more times. Each time he went for a different boys face. The boys were just dying laughing everytime he would come up and rear back and ram the window and make water splash all over.

Much to the boys dismay, I told them we needed to get up and let someone else look. There were about 4 windows, but everyone was at the one we were at. I wish I knew if he kept doing it after we left. Even though he kept walking to the other window, he never rammed it. The poor other polar bear was not getting any attention.

I don't know anything about polar bears. When we first walked up he was playing with a big ball in the water. I don't know if he was trying to play or trying to get his lunch (he could eat Bryce in no more than 2 bites!!). It was a neat experience for the boys and they talked about it for quite a while!

Memphis Zoo

We went to the Memphis Zoo today. This is the first time we have gone and it is really nice - and big (compared to the zoos we are used too). The boys had such a great time! The most exciting animals the kids saw were the bats, polar bears and panda bears.

Caleb was SOOOO excited about the bats. He had actually brought a book we had gotten him when we went to Blanchard Springs Caverns last year. He was really upset because the bats were not out when we took the tour of the caves. The zoo has a house with nocturnal animals. It was pretty cool. They had a huge "cave" in the middle of the house. It was floor to ceiling and pretty long. The inside looks like a cave, except for the glass of course. The bats were flying all over and they were landing right in front Caleb. He was so excited to see them so close.

The pandas were not very fun to watch, but they are cute. They were inside and one was sitting in a tree napping and the other was eating bamboo like he had not eaten in a year! You can actually go to the zoos website and see the pandas through a webcam. Although they were not active, the boys enjoyed seeing them.

When we stopped to eat, they have an indoor restaraunt. One whole wall was glass and looked out to some monkeys. While we were sitting there eating, one of the monkeys kept climbing the wall and jumping at the window. The kids loved that. I guess they wanted some of those burgers and hot dogs too! Doesn't seem fair that they have to see that all day!

Friday, July 07, 2006

Isaac's ABC's

Isaac and I have been working on Isaac's recognition of his ABC's. He has been reciting his alphabet for awhile, and he can spell his name and recognized the letters to his name. We are working with flashcards and we started with lower case. Before we started I ran through all of the cards to see exactly what he knew. He knew 10 of the 26.

Today we worked on the lower case some more and ran through the upper case. He knew all but 7 of the upper case. He is working so hard and so patiently. I am so proud of how far he has come in the last 9 months or so. I can not wait to see how quick he picks things up when he can hear the way he is supposed too!

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

More Teapots

Since I was posting about my teapots, I wanted to add this on. This is one of my favorite ones. I love the teapot, but I also loved the rest of the set. I just thought it was cute (and, of course, it was pink!).



Warning: This Post Contains Lots of Bragging About My Husband!

I was sitting at the table tonight with the boys looking at the beautiful shelves he made me to display some of my teapots. He did this a few months ago and I thought I had posted about it, but I guess I didn't.

After not being able to find anything that we liked for displaying my teapots, he offered to make me some shelves. We went to Home Depot and got the needed supplies, and he came home and got started. I was so impressed with how great of a job he did, I am just going to let him make everything - better quality and custom made!!

So, I love my shelves and my teapots look GREAT on them. He is just the best husband on earth and handy too. I love you sweetie, and thank you for all the hard work you do(hope Caleb does not read this - he would be embarrassed!)!




Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Fourth of July

I am sitting here in my house and it sounds like we are in the middle of a war in my backyard!! There are SOOO many fireworks exploding out there. We did not go to watch any this year because I did not want to try to entertain the kids!

Also wanted to tell my little brother HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I would say you are getting old, but since I am your older sister - I won't go there!!!

Your Embarrassment, My Compliment

Caleb gave Paul and I a huge compliment today. He was sitting out at the curb with a few other boys talking. Paul and I were playing basketball with each other. Paul overheard Caleb telling the other boys how Paul and I always tell each other we love each other and that Daddy calls me Sweetpea and we always kiss each other and things like that.

While we were eating lunch I asked Caleb if he was telling his friends this stuff. He said yes. I asked if that embarrassed him and he said yes. I asked why and he said it was "discussing" (disgusting).

I take it as a compliment that after almost 11 years together, my son thinks we are embarrassing because we show that we love each other! I hope that he learns to love the same way - in a long time - when the time is right!

I did inform Caleb that because he told us it was embarrassing - we would make sure to act that way more often when he is around! When we went to eat - we made sure to loudly tell each other we love each other, and kiss on each other - his squirming in response was great!

Monday, July 03, 2006

Misc. Photos





This is what you get when you ask Bryce to go get dressed without any help!












Along with clothing, he has strange sleeping positions!
Daddy is "training" for his backpacking trip this month. Here are some pictures of him with his pack on:


WAIT A MINUTE! What kind of backpacking is he planning? Is that...a...arm? Um....is anything attached to that arm?
















Oh...well, there is a face....



















It is Bryce - in a backpack?

















Daddy needed some weight to work with but did not want to pack the pack. So...Bryce volunteered to help. He loved it and when we went hiking - he wanted to ride in the pack!!

FUNNY!!!

When we were done with our hike at Pinnacle Mountain, we stopped at McAlisters for lunch. When the guy brought us our food, he asked if we had gotten the boys meals or just sandwiches. He says "sorry, we are out of titty - I mean teddy - grahams!" I just started laughing out loud at him (in front of him!!).

Pinnacle Mountain Photos


Where's Bryce?


















Peek - a - boo


















The new generation of backpacks: With built in cup holders!
Warning: drink has a tendency of disappearing when using this cup holder. Use at your own risk!
















Isaac at beginning of boulder field


















Caleb and Isaac climbing mountain





















Daddy and Isaac
















View from the boulder field











Caleb climbing boulders















drink break












starting climbing













my boys atop their mountain-side perch













the view from the mountain-side perch















more of the view












This is not zoomed in at all. We were up high enough that we could read the helicopter and see the people in it.











The boys scooting down the mountain (just like their Grandma always did!!)
















going down the mountain






































Isaac












Caleb going down



























potty break!














we found a tree that made a perfect seat - complete with a rock for a foot rest



















Bryce in tree seat















Caleb on tree seat


















Isaac on tree seat



















Mommy on tree seat